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J970 VPU

1991 Mazda MX-5

Red Petrol 1597cc
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MOT Status

Valid
Expires19 Aug 2026
Tests27 (20 pass, 7 fail)
Pass rate74.1%

Mileage

111,644 mi
Last recorded111,644 miles
Recorded on14 Aug 2025
Typical for 1991 Mazda MX-5114,279 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Mazda
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
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Vehicle Details

RegistrationJ970 VPU
MakeMazda
ModelMX-5
Year1991
ColourRed
Fuel typePetrol
Engine1,597cc
View full Mazda MX-5 reliability data Browse other 1991 Mazda MX-5 registrations

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

20 pass 7 fail
Pass 14 Aug 2025 111,644 miles

Front Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Front Suspension component corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt both side (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing both side (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated both side (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened corroding (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened both side corroding (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Rear Registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (0.1 (b))

Rear Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Rear Suspension component corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing both side (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 20 Aug 2024 111,002 miles

Front Anti-roll bar ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated Both (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Both (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Front Sub-frame corroded

Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated Both (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened Both (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt Both (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Nearside Front Service brakes binding but not excessively

Offside Rear Tyre has nail

Rear Axle corroded

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Both (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Rear Exhaust has minor leak of gases

Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened Both (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Both (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Fail 22 Jul 2024 110,984 miles

Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Front Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated Both upper and low suspension arm ball joint dust covers deteriorated on both sides (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened Upper and lower on both sides (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt Both sides (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Both tyres cracking in tread (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Rear Axle corroded but still structurally rigid

Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))

Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened All suspension arms (5.3.3 (b) (i))

Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Both tyres cracking in tread (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 24 Jul 2023 109,929 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Small cracks in tread (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Small cracks in tread (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated Upper and lower arm (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Small cracks in tread (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing Small cracks in tread (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 18 Jul 2022 109,636 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Fail 18 Jul 2022 109,636 miles

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))

Offside Front Headlamp not working on dipped beam (4.1.1 (a) (ii))

Nearside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Nearside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Nearside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated (5.3.4 (b) (i))

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (i))

Offside Front Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Offside Rear Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing (5.2.3 (d) (ii))

Pass 25 Jun 2021 109,319 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases Middle To Rear Section. (6.1.2 (a))

Pass 25 Jul 2020 109,019 miles

exhaust seepage at center section ( re-sealed)

Fail 1 Jul 2020 109,015 miles

Nearside Rear Outer Integral body structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting sill marked with chalk (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Front Integral body structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting inner chassis rail, marked with chalk (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Rear Inner Integral body structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting sill marked with chalk (6.2.2 (d) (i))

Offside Rear Outer Integral body structure or chassis has excessive corrosion, seriously affecting its strength within 30cm of a body mounting sill marked with chalk (6.2.2 (d) (i))

o/s/f metal brake pipe corroding, covered in grease

Pass 19 Jul 2019 108,466 miles

rear number plate starting to deteriorate

slight oil leaks

various points of under body corrosion

Fail 19 Jul 2019 108,466 miles

Offside Rear Stop lamp(s) not working 21/5 watt bulb (4.3.1 (a) (ii))

rear number plate starting to deteriorate

slight oil leaks

various points of under body corrosion

Pass 19 Jul 2018 105,154 miles
Pass 20 Jul 2017 101,727 miles

Nearside Rear tyre nailed

Rear coil spring corroded springs rusty (2.4.C.1b)

rear discs surface corrosion

Pass 25 Jul 2016 100,237 miles
Pass 28 Jul 2015 98,329 miles
Pass 29 Jul 2014 95,921 miles

Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Nearside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Track rod end ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.2.C.1c)

Offside Rear coil spring corroded (2.4.C.1b)

Pass 15 Jul 2013 94,878 miles
Pass 20 Jul 2012 91,974 miles

all tyres cracking on side walls

Fail 18 Jul 2012 91,974 miles

Brakes imbalanced across an axle (3.7.B.5b)

Emissions not tested (7.0)

Nearside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush bonding deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.2)

Rear Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

all tyres cracking on side walls

Pass 12 Jul 2011 89,049 miles

Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Fail 15 Jul 2010 87,890 miles

Offside Rear position lamp(s) not working (1.1.A.3b)

Offside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Pass 15 Jul 2010 87,890 miles
Pass 14 Jul 2009 86,800 miles
Pass 23 Jul 2008 85,946 miles

car has slight ex rattle?

Fail 18 Jul 2008 85,901 miles

Nearside Outer Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Offside Outer Rear Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded (5.2.6)

Pass 23 Jul 2007 85,445 miles
Pass 17 Jul 2006 84,561 miles

How Reliable is the Mazda MX-5?

Based on 2,502,760 MOT tests across 160,823 vehicles.

76.5%
Pass Rate
2,964
Miles/Year
36
Year Lifespan
160,823
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded 44,475
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 41,962
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 35,980
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 33,281
Brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick 32,722
Full Mazda MX-5 reliability report

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J970 VPU is a 1991 Mazda MX-5 in Red with a 1,597cc petrol engine. This vehicle has been through 27 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 74.1%.

Across all 1991 Mazda MX-5 models, the average MOT pass rate is 68.4% with a typical mileage of 114,279 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Mazda MX-5 fails its MOT is seat belt anchorage prescribed area is excessively corroded, accounting for 44,475 recorded failures. If you're considering buying J970 VPU, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Mazda MX-5 typically stays on UK roads for around 36 years. At 35 years old, this Mazda MX-5 is approaching the upper end of the typical lifespan for this model.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of J970 VPU?

You can check the full history of J970 VPU by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was J970 VPU registered?

J970 VPU is a 1991 Mazda MX-5, first registered on 1 August 1991.

Is J970 VPU safe to buy?

The MOT history for J970 VPU shows 27 tests with a 74.1% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does J970 VPU have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on J970 VPU. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.